Analysis Of Harriet Jacobs Incidents In The Life Of A Girl

Slavery refers to a state of bondage in which another owns a person (the slave) (the master). The slave is expected to meet all requirements and demands of the master. Such a situation results in degradation of human dignity, value and self-respect. The female slaves were usually mistreated more and even harassed by the masters as they are more vulnerable. It was due to the evils involved in this trade of human slaves that led to abolition of slavery. However, deep scars remain unhealed and echoes of pain from the past can still be felt and heard. Numerous books have been written about the hardships endured by slaves before the abolition. Harriet Jacobs was one such writer who came forward to write about the hardships she went through as a slave. In her book “Incidents in the Life of a Girl”, she narrates about the inhuman living conditions and treatment associated with slavery, its great impact on the women and advocates for its abolition.
The slaves were forced to employment and work for their masters at their bidding. For instance, when Jacobs was six, she was taken away to work for her mistress. She recalls by saying, “I was born a slave’ but I never knew …show more content…
However, their masters forced these duties upon them. Oversight of the smooth running of the house was not done out of a sense of duty or responsibility but because of the conditions imposed upon them. For example, Jacobs’ aunt who worked in her relocated house. She was responsible for opening up and closing the house. Failure to which would result in heavy punishment as any other failure. However, the woman if were a leader of the household, fulfilment of these duties would be accompanied by the benefits of the femininity ideology. Contrary to this, the woman was not protected or properly sheltered. Women were also subjected to field labor alongside men for the same durations of